King of Hearts

16.

Val only faintly remembers her dream. She doesn't make a big deal out of it, however. Since she was little, strange dreams keep haunting her. It feels like she experiences it from another perspective as if she is in another body. A man is always present. Val never remembers the face of the man, only his presence. She can tell that his physique, height, or voice are almost always different, but the feeling remains the same. She doesn't know what happens before or after, but she's aware of her dreams' romantic feelings. In every dream, they depict a couple. At first, Val was very curious why she keeps on dreaming about her and this man, but now she's given up on trying to figure out what it all means.

She has already talked about it to her friends. Stella bought books about dreams and psychology, but none really helped explain Val's weird dreams. Cloé thinks it's an unconscious desire of falling in love. Val has never had a boyfriend, unlike her friends. Therefore, maybe she unconsciously wants to experience some romance as well. Stella thinks it might be a lover from a past life, but she has always been the superstitious type.

Either way, Val just forgets about the dream. She stretches herself before getting up. She soon notices that Dánica isn't in her bed. Val throws herself that lavender uniform over and gets ready for the day.

As she enters the kitchen, Dánica already sits at the table. When she notices Val, her face brightens. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" Val sighs in response and also decides to sit down. "Yes. I really needed a good sleep. My feet were painfully swollen." She grabs an apple out of the fruit basket. "Would you like some raspberry tea?", Dánica kindly offers. Before Val can respond, Dánica is already pouring some hot tea into a blue mug. Val smiles thankfully. 

Dánica shifts on her chair from side to side and Val immediately acknowledges that she's trying to say something. "I was really worried yesterday", Dánicahesitates. "No one actually has ever gotten themselves in prison on their first day of work." She giggles softly and Val can't help but grin. At least she'll be remembered.
"I knew Garan was going to settle things, but even so, I couldn't help but worry, so I – wait a second. I'll be right back", she says and suddenly leaves the table sprinting to her room. After only a few seconds she comes right back with a sheet of paper in her hand. With the smile of a little girl who just performed in front of an entire school, she hands the sheet to Val.

It's a painting of a replica of Val standing on a beach, painting the sea in front of her on an easel. In the background, the sun is setting in beautiful colors of pink, red, and orange. The water is of a magical teal and she is wearing a beautiful white summer dress. There even sits a black cat in the corner of the painting admiring Val from afar. Not only is this painting a masterpiece but also an honor and a compliment. No one has ever painted her. It really moves her. "Dánica, this is beautiful!" Val exclaims mesmerized by it.

A yellow and white boat swims in the background. A cliff with a pearl white villa is painted in the distance on the right. This looks like a dream. It is very well done. Val doesn't know what to say. She truly loves it.

"You see, I was thinking of you and I wanted you to be in a safe and peaceful place, so I thought of this beach", Dánica explains timidly.

Val is touched. She can't help but hug her tightly. "Thank you, Dánica. It means a lot to me. Not just the painting but the fact that you were thinking of me", Val replies. She really did not expect Dánica to be already that affectionate. The girls barely had time to talk to each other. Still, it warms Val's heart. What a kind and considerate person she is.

"You know, I really don't get why you're still working here in a shop. With that talent of yours, you should've already become famous", Val honestly speaks her mind. She admires Dánica's work. She can see not only her talent but also the passion and the hard work behind that painting. It saddens her, that such a talent is going wasted.